Blog Archives
Stuck Behind
Stuck Behind –
This morning, on my way to a community group for dads, I turned left on a road and ended up stuck behind a FedEx truck. He was going slow and I couldn’t tell if it was him or if there was a slow-poke in front of him. I don’t like being behind large semi-trucks, vans with no windows or box trucks because you can’t see what’s ahead. We were on a two-lane road with no place to pass and no way of knowing how many vehicles I’d have to get in front of if I tried passing. I was stuck. The FedEx truck was intermittently breaking taking me by surprise and frustrating me. So, I took a breath and let off the gas and gave the obstacle in my way, blocking my view, more room. We finally made it to a four-lane road and I passed him noting there were a few cars in front of him that he had been stuck behind.
It was a good reminder that at times, in certain seasons, we can’t make the progress we’d like to make. For whatever reason we are stuck and the way forward is hidden from view. We try to fight it, force it, make it work the way we want it to but this only keeps us frustrated. Allowing for slowness, even stillness gives us a chance to catch our breath and trust that when its time the way forward will come into view.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Junk Path
Junk Path –
This morning I had an early meeting. I loaded up my truck and began pulling out of my driveway. As I neared the end of it I noticed a truck carrying a refuse container coming in my direction. I didn’t have time to jump in front of it and as it passed I sighed. I didn’t want to be stuck behind this behemoth. I thought about the way I needed to take and realized the Refuse and Recycle Center was the way I was going. In other words, I was going to be behind the truck, carrying the container, almost the whole trip into town. Sure enough, every turn, stop, flashing light I encountered the truck was directly in front of me. I followed it to the junkyard.
As I drove powerlessly behind the truck I thought of myself and others who have, at times, been on a junk path. Poor choices, bad decisions, oversized egos, revenge, remorse, not listening, not paying attention, ended in a bad place and a life that wasn’t balanced or centered. There were good people who tried to warn us, wave us off, show us another, better way but we stubbornly stayed on the path to demise.
Wisdom, it doesn’t do us any good if we fail to follow its lead and travel its path.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Behind the Eyes
Behind the Eyes –
I saw a picture of me from several years ago today. As most people, I don’t care for my photo to be taken but when it is I “grin and bear it.” Looking at the picture today the smile was there but it wasn’t genuine. There was also something missing in the eyes. There was no light behind them. They were hollow and sad. I was surrounded by friends in the photo, good friends. It should’ve been a time of stories, thankfulness, and memories but I can tell in my eyes it wasn’t any of those for me, only a blank stare and pasted smile. This was about a year before I was diagnosed with a Chronic Major Depressive Disorder.
The journey over these last years has been a hard one and there is still far to go but looking back I can see where I’ve come from and this does bring me relief. I’m not stuck in the same place even though sometimes it feels that way.
I’ve been watching a documentary titled; “The Kingdom of Us.” (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/08/the-kingdom-of-us-review-netflix-teenagers-lucy-cohen) It is the story of a family recovering from their father’s suicide. They listen to recordings of his voice, often in song, and watch videos of him and the family. They ask each other repeatedly, “Look at him! He’s so sad. Why didn’t we see it?” I know the answer; “because he didn’t want it to be seen.” We’ve all been there and done that; plastered on a smile when our hearts are breaking inside. We’ve pushed on even though everything feels broken inside.
Too often we take people’s word when we ask; “How are you?” and they reply; “Fine’ or ‘Good.” The key to discovering the truth is asking more than once and keep at it until they feel you might actually want to know.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Tethered
Tethered –
This morning in church we were finishing a song and the song leader asked us to be seated. Beth had on a beautiful gray, black and white scarf wrapped around her neck and as we were sitting it ended up between the person and seat back of the pew in front of us. Beth was sitting and all a sudden the scarf now pressed into the pew by the woman couldn’t sit back she was stuck, tethered to someone we didn’t know. The situation was absurd and funny and we both got the giggles. I reached over to pull it from between the woman and pew and realized there was a lot of scarf to retrieve. Luckily, we weren’t seated for long and we stood back up expecting the woman to do the same. Unfortunately, she didn’t. Argh! Beth then began to pull the scarf little by little until, finally, she had freed herself and was careful not to lean too far forward again.
In life, there are times we find ourselves tethered to someone or a group that chokes the life out of us. We might not notice it at first but sooner or later we find we must be free or suffer. Cutting the cord, letting go, escaping from a toxic relationship is hard but it is better than the life being pulled out of us.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Often Wrong, Never in Doubt
Often Wrong, Never in Doubt –
This afternoon I watched an episode of a Netflix six-part series on greed called; “Dirty Money” (http://collider.com/dirty-money-trailer-netflix-alex-gibney-martin-shkreli/). The series exposes a few of the most corrupt people and companies in the world.
The episode I saw today was; “DRUG SHORT.” It’s an exposé on Wall Street short-sellers and how they exposed a scam that regulators often overlook, mainly how Big Pharma gouges patients in need of life-saving drugs. It was heartbreaking and infuriating as it made the case that when Wall Street and pharmaceutical companies partner together corruption is sure to result. Greed, profits are why drugs can jump up in price from $15.00 a pill to thousands of dollars. Bottom line it’s about how much money is made for the companies and investors.
During the documentary, someone described another person as; “often wrong but never in doubt.” I’d never heard that phrase before but it’s stuck with me. I’ve wondered how often it pertains to me and to others. In the documentary is referred to investors and the difficulty of playing hunches in the stock market. It also included the companies and their desire to grow bigger by taking risky partnerships with unscrupulous people.
I reflected on our world and how many of us are so sure of our opinions and we never consider another’s point of view. We provide litmus tests for others’ beliefs and if they fail we shake our heads and move on to someone else who’s more like us. I heard another phrase this week that I’d heard before but it was no less potent and true; “If you’re the smartest person in the room. If everyone in the room agrees with you, you’re in the wrong room.”
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Stuck
Stuck –
This morning my wife had to be at work early. She’s not a morning person so when this happens I try to stay out of the way! After she left I was about to make some coffee when the phone rang. It was Beth frantically telling me that a couple of miles down the road a horse had fallen into a mostly frozen pond and would I do something? “Uh, sure?” I answered. I hopped in the truck, which was very cold inside and out, and drove down the road until I spotted it. Sure enough, there was the poor animal front half end above the ice and it’s back completely submerged. The question quickly became; “What do I do?” The field with the pond and the horse has no house near it. There are a row of houses on the other side but no way to tell which one, if any, owned the horses and/or the field. There were vehicles behind me so I pulled off the road. Feeling helpless and unsure I dialed 911 hoping they would be able to do something or point me in the right direction. A man answered the phone and I told him the story. I gave him the address of the house immediately across the road from the stuck horse and he said help would be on the way. I couldn’t stay where I was parked and the field had no gates to drive through so I trusted the man on the phone and went home.
Sitting here this evening I don’t know what happened to the horse. It wasn’t moving when I called the emergency number and I don’t have any idea how long it was stuck in the ice and freezing water. I hope it will be okay. I hope the help got there in time. I hope someone who could do something got it unstuck and it, along with the other horses, will stay away from the pond until it warms up.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Stuck
Stuck –
Yesterday afternoon on my way to a fatherhood class I was driving down a road and rounded a curve with a truck parked almost in the middle and its hazard lights flashing. I slowed down and getting closer I saw the problem. A guy and his lawnmower were stuck in a ditch. The man who owned the mower seemed at a loss as the driver of the truck attempted to tie a rope around the mower and pull it out of the ditch. It was going to be a feat because somehow the man has positioned his mower where all four wheels were not touching any ground. I hoped everyone was safe and they were able to get the man and his machine mowing again.
Continuing on my way I reflected upon the man and his mower. I’ve felt like him before. There have been times when navigating the road of life, following the path I believed was correct, when all of a sudden there was no traction, no way forward or backward. I was simply and absolutely stuck.
This can be a horrible and helpless feeling. To not know how to proceed or retreat. Finally, after all attempts to get going I accepted the truth I wasn’t going anywhere. In these frustrating times, I learned to be still. Trusting the way would be made available I made the place where I was stuck an altar, a place of divine intervention. Sooner or later someone or something would always come and help me get moving again. My focus in these times moved from being stuck to being still.
Wisdom taught me that not being able to move was a blessing, a season of rest and a time of trust.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Stuck
Stuck –
Today I was stuck somewhere I didn’t want to be, doing something I didn’t want to do for over 6-hours! A quarter of my day was spent enduring, trying to stay calm, doing much breathing exercises and practicing stillness.
This wasn’t my plan for this day. I had it all laid out and then boom! From out of nowhere, life took a hard turn and I had no choice but to follow. There are moments and seasons in life when you’re given one of two or more choices. This wasn’t available to me today. I walked a 6-hour path of misery, by sitting in an uncomfortable room and an uncomfortable chair, and thankfully came out on the other side.
Life is nothing if not unpredictable. Especially when you have everything scheduled and coordinated. It’s interesting how life’s “surprises” continue to shock. Perhaps one day they won’t surprise us anymore. Maybe we’ll learn the lesson of living in the moment, no expectations and accept everything that comes with an open hand and spirit.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Stuck
Stuck –
This morning I listened to a man tell a story about a time he and his wife went hiking during the fall in a National Park. He described the scenery and that he and his wife were so absorbed in the beauty they didn’t realize how late it had become. They hurried back to the car, trying to be in the vehicle before dark. They made it and then pulled out of the deserted parking lot. Unfortunately, they were met a large yellow chain hooked on two polls each side of the entrance/exit. They weren’t sure what to do. There wasn’t enough room to drive on either side of the polls and they didn’t want to be there all night. As they sat in their car wondering who to call the wife asked a simple question; “Is there a lock? I don’t see a lock on the chain or polls.” The husband got out of the car, walked up to the chain unhooked it and went back to the car smiling at his wife’s genius. They drove through the exit and then put the chain back in place.
The man followed up his story with a reflection on how often we think we’re stuck, there’s no way out, a hopeless situation. He said that once we decide we can’t go, get or keep moving, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I reflected on the man’s reflection and began thinking about times in my life where I thought I couldn’t go any further but by the grace of God, the kindness of loved ones and friends I was shown a way and was able to get unstuck and keep traveling the road of life. I’m thankful today for those who are smarter than me, see different from me, think in ways I don’t and can show me the way when I can’t see how to keep going.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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A Better Door
This morning I was heading outside to retrieve the dogs from their morning ritual.
The back storm door, from which I exited, has a hook attached in such a way that sometimes instead of falling down when it’s taken out of the eye bolt, it gets stuck in the upright position.
Apparently, this is what happened this morning and when the door shut behind me the hook fell at just the right angle to lock itself back. When we returned I tried to open it, several times in several ways, with no luck. The pooches and I we’re stuck. Finally, I decided to rap on the bedroom window where my wife was still sleeping. Graciously, she let me in through the front door and didn’t even ask for an explanation. (Things like this happen to me regularly and getting back in bed was more important to her than my story.)
As I shook my head, thinking; “What are the odds?” I also reflected on other times in my life when doors have been shut, locked and no matter what I tried couldn’t be opened. Places I wanted to go, positions I longed to occupy, higher levels I sought to attain but the doors to many of these were closed with no way in and I had to make a choice…
Do I figure out how to force them open or seek help to find another door, a better door which another had graciously opened?
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
http://www.thewannabesaint.com
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Going in Circles
Wednesday morning I needed to go to Nashville for a fatherhood regional meeting. I left early to beat the heavy traffic that’s notorious when you’re trying to get into the city. My GPS of choice is Waze. I like the look of it, the ability to alert other drivers of traffic, accidents, construction and be warned if you’re approaching hazards or other difficulties.
With the address plugged in I set out for my destination. Everything was going smoothly and as I approached an area known for a lot of stop and go, standstill traffic, Waze suddenly changed my route. I wasn’t sure what was happening but chose to follow its directions. It exited me off the interstate to another highway then another exit to the right and another right, straight for a few more miles and then another right which brought me back to the same interstate I was on 5 minutes before just a mile or so ahead of my previous spot. It didn’t save me any time or significantly advance my position, it just added anxiety to my journey.
The rest of the trip was event free and as my truck rolled down the road I reflected on our inclination to take short cuts, try to get ahead, around, bypass obstacles on the road of life. If we could we’d skip the painful places, the stressful situations, the locations on the path of life that bring unwanted obstructions, forces us to stop and perhaps wonder if we’ll ever get moving again.
The problem is we can’t steer clear of the unpleasant, traumatic, heartbreaking places of life. We might be able to evade them for a while but sooner or later we must traverse, experience, deal with these or risk being stuck mentally, emotionally and spiritually for a lifetime.
Getting where we need to go often times means going places we’d rather avoid.
blessings,
@brianloging (Twitter)
http://www.thewannabesaint.com
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Stunned, Stuck and Stranded on the Road Less Traveled
On my return trip today from giving a lecture on fathers and families at a university about an hour from home I noticed traffic backed up on the exit I needed to take. To avoid being stuck I bypassed it and decided to take another route through scenic Thompsons Station, Tennessee.
Rounding a back country road I noticed a sign that indicated a low bridge. My mind was elsewhere as I came upon the bridge and a box truck that didn’t quite have the clearance it needed to pass under. I quickly applied the brakes and cautiously made my way around two-thirds of the vehicle sticking out from one side of the bridge. On the other side of the small, height challenged overpass was a stunned driver standing in front of the crumpled and very stuck other third of the truck talking on a cellphone with a look of; “what happened?!?!” all over his face.
I thought about the road I had not taken to avoid being stuck and the gentleman who either missed the sign of misjudged the stature of the delivery truck. Either way his day got a lot longer.
Life. Sometimes the road we choose to travel lets us avoid troubles and stress. Other times it leaves us stunned, stranded and stuck.
blessings,
@BrianLoging
http://www.thewannabesaint.com
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Metal Rings, Wedding Rings and Other Things
One of the first things I do, if possible, when I sit down in an auditorium or worship center is unhook my chair from the rest of the row. Sometimes the seats are just too close together. This morning was no exception as I settled in for Sunday morning service. After the announcements, greeting, and music the pastor began speaking and while listening, following along in my Bible, I also began fiddling with the metal fastener on the side of the seat beneath the cushion. I’m not sure how it happened but my ring finger on my left hand became stuck in the metal loop.
At first I wasn’t worried. I figured it would come out with a little finagling. I moved it to the left, to the right, wiggled it, twisted it, bent it, squished it but no luck. Then I began to panic. I leaned over to my wife and whispered; “My finger’s stuck.” She gave me a quizzical look and I repeated with more emphasis; “My finger IS stuck!” Her eyes grew wide. I tried a few more times and it was still a no go. Then, I had an idea. I handed her everything I was holding and reached under the chair and slid my wedding ring off. Once it was gone I tried removing my finger again and success! The finger was red and sore but no permanent damage done. “Let’s not do that again” said Beth. “Not a problem.” I smiled.
As I reflect on the moments of being stuck and getting unstuck I thought about a story of how hunters catch certain breeds of monkeys. The trap is simple. Place a piece of fruit in a box with a hole just big enough for the animal to slide it’s hand in. However, once the animal grabs the treat it can’t pull it’s hand out the tiny opening. If it let go of what it was holding it could escape but that doesn’t occur to the monkey. Refusing to release its grip the monkey
seals its fate.
Oftentimes in life we’re trapped, stuck because we aren’t willing to give things up, put things down, let go, release our hold of things which actually have hold of us.
blessings,
@BrianLoging
http://www.thewannabesaint.com
